A Shrewsbury massage therapist is promoting massage therapy in a bid to educate the public on the health benefits of massage.

A recent study, published in the Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Health, found that people who receive a massage have measurable health changes that can be detected in their blood.

The research shows that not only does getting a massage feel relaxing, but the benefits can actually increase your body's immune response, and lower the levels of stress hormones in the blood.

Shrewsbury massage therapist, Tessa Kirk of In Good Hands Massage, believes massage can improve bad health but is also a good way of preventing it.

She said: “A criticism quite often leveled at conventional medical practice is that it fails to operate a genuinely preventive service, in that it concerns itself only with the management of ill-health. However, many people now accept the idea that the mind and body are interrelated, and that it is possible to participate more fully in the healing process.

“Today, massage therapy is one of the fastest growing forces in the field of health care. The human body holds all the traumas, pain, distress, tension and emotional crisis within its muscular structure. Every thought and feeling we have is etched in our body, the map of our experiences.

“Massage is simply the manipulation of the soft tissues of the body, the muscles, tendons, ligaments and is beneficial in treating a wide range of conditions, including muscle spasms and pain, soreness from injury, headaches, insomnia, drainage of the sinus fluids, depression, improved blood circulation, stimulation of the lymphatic system (which carries away the bodies waste products, aiding in detoxification) and helps pain management in conditions such as arthritis and sciatica.”

Tessa is a fully trained professional who can be found at Bodytech Health Club in Mardol, Shrewsbury, and Serenity, 24 Castle Street, Shrewsbury. She also runs a mobile service to those who prefer not to or cannot leave their homes. She is experienced in massage for the elderly and physically and mentally challenged.

For more information please visit her website or contact Tessa direct on 07878 360882.